Draft attachment for harness.



No. 758,614. PATENTBD MAY 3, 1904.

' J.BL,0EDEL.

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR HARNESS. APPLICATION FILED AUG-.10, 1002.

I0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented May 3,1904.

PATENT QFFICE.

JACOB BLOEDEL, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

DRAFT ATTACHMENT FOR HARNESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 8, 14, datedmg Application filed August 10, 1903.

Z0 0.1,], whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAooB BLoEDEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Wyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draft Attachments for Harness; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates to draft attachments for harness, and has for its object to provide adevice which will so automatically adjust itself that in either a forward or back draft'a direct line of draft is maintained.

A further object of my invention is to provide a spring-bearing for the draft-hooks, thus relieving the animal from jars and jolts and making the draft easier.

Further objects of. my invention are to provide many improved detailsof structure, the same being clearly shown in the drawings, in

' which like reference-numerals refer to like parts, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation view of a collar and hames, the latter being provided with my improved device. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the spring-brace, showing means for carrying the tugs. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pintle-bearing on which the brace and spring are mounted. Fig. 1 is adetail view of the metal strap with spring and loop extensions. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the link connection between the metal strap shown in Fig. 4: and the bell-crank to which the lower hame-strap is attached.

In describing my invention 1 shall only refer to one of the attachments; but it will be understood that one is used on each hame.

' Referring more in detail to the drawings, 1 represents a horse-collar, and 2 the hames, to which my improved device is attached. The upper end of the hame is provided with the usual perforations 3 forthe upper hamestrap 4 and with the usual rein-ring 5.

6 represents ring-bolts whose shanks are Serial No. 169,002. (No model.)

riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the hame 2.

7 is a pintle-bearing loosely mounted in ring-bolts 6 by means of pintle-pins 8.

9 is a metal strap provided with a spring extension 10.

11 is a loop in the upper end of strap 9, in which the back strap ring 12 is loosely mounted.

13 is an extension on the inner side of strap 9, having at the lower end thereof a loop 14., in which the holdback-strap ring 15 is loosely mounted.

16 is a loop in the lower end of strap 9. engaging the upper link of the link connection between the strap 9 and the bell-crank mou nted inthe lower end of the hame and to which the lower hame-strap is fastened. Strap 9 and the extensions 10 and 13 are curved to correspond with the contourof the hame.

Fig. 2 shows in detail a brace which is loosely mounted on the pintle-bearing 7 and is provided at its outer end with means for securing the tug. The sides 17 of said brace are curved at their inner ends, forming loo'ps 18, adapted to loosely engage pintle-bearing 7, while its outer ends 19 are bent outwardly from each other to provide sufiicient space for securing the tugs and are bent backwardly for purposes hereinafter described. Said ends 19 are perforated and carry a bolt 20, which passes through said perforations. Sides 17 of said brace are held in position by means of pins 21 and 21', riveted or otherwise rigidly secured thereto. Further object of pins 21 21 is to provide a seat for spring 10, as will be hereinafter described.

22 is a bell-crank loosely mounted by any suitable means in the loop at the lower end of hame 2, formed by the metal strap which binds the hame.

Fig. 5 shows in detail the link connection between strap 9 and bell-crank 22. 24: is the lower link of said connection and is provided at its lower end with a loop 25, adapted to engage the outer loop 26 of bell-crank 22. The upper end of loop 24 is provided with an eye or suitable perforation 27 for engaging the loop 28 at the lower end of the link 29. At

the upper end of link 29 is a slot 30 large enough to slip over the loop 16 in the strap 9 and rest in the seat thereof. I have shown the links in the link connection as having flaring heads; butI do not wish to be restricted to this shape, as the heads may be of the same width as the links or of any suitable shape.

The assembling of the parts of my device is as follows: The lower ring-bolt 6 is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured in the desired position on the hame 2. The lower pintle-pin 8 is placed in the eye thereof, and the upper pintle-pin 8 is placed in the eye of the upper ring-bolt 6, which is then secured to the hame at such distance above the lower ring-bolt as will allow the pintle-bearing to revolve therein by means of the pintle-pins 8, but not so far as to leave room for vertical movement of same. The spring on strap 9 is then slipped under pintle 7, its base resting against the front of hame 2 and strap 9 resting against the outer edge of hame 2. The brace shown in Fig. 2 is then positioned on pintle 7 by means of loops 18, which connect with said pintles from the under side thereof, thus permitting the sides 17 to rest against the hame 2. In positioning said brace the spring 10 is fitted over the inner spreading-pin 21 and under the outer pin 21. Links 24 and 29 of the link connection between the metal strap 9 and the bell-crank 22 are loosely but permanently connected by means of eye 27 in link 24: and loop 28 in link 29. In the upper end of link 29 is a slot 30 large enough to slip over the loop 16 in the metal strap 9 to gain its position in the seat thereof. The lower end of link 2tis loosely secured in the outer loop of the bellcrank 22 by means of loop 25.

The bell-crank and lower-hame-strap are the same as shown in Patent No. 394,051, issued to me December 4, 1888, on which my present invention is an improvement.

The object of my invention is to provide a draft means which will automatically adjust itself, so that in either a straight draft or a holdback a straight line of draft is maintained, thus permitting the animal to utilize its whole strength and weight to the best-advantage and to provide a spring attachment which will relieve the animal from sudden jars and jolts.

By having the draft means on one hame slidably connected with the draft means on the other hame by means of the metal strap 9, links 29 and 24, the bell-crank22, and the lower hame-strap 31, when the line of draft is thrown from one side to the other, the draft means, consisting of the brace in combination with the spring 10, will automatically adjust itself along the pintle 7, the spring and loops of the brace on the side on which the draft is thrown sliding up along the pintle, raising the strap 9 and links 24 and 29. Link 2* being attached to the lower loop of bellcrank 22, upon being drawn upward will, l

through its pivotal connection on the point of the hame, force the inner link of the bellcrank outwardly from the collar and toward the side which is raised,'thus drawing the lower hame-strap, which c'onnectswith the hames by means of said bell-crank, toward the side of draft, thus lowering the parts on the side opposite the side of draft by a corresponding reverse action to that described. By tightening or loosening the lower hame-strap the movement of the parts along the pintle may be increased or decreased, as desired.

While my attachment may be used with any kind of harness, the best results are obtained by using my improved adjusting draft-harness, in which the angling back-strap is sooured to the ring 12 on the upper part of metal strap 9 and is secured at the other end to a ring in the breeching on the opposite side of the animal to which the front end is attached, said straps crossing on the animals back just forward of the breeching. The holdback-straps are secured in the usual way to the breeching, but pass between the animals fore legs, through a ring in the breaststrap, and crossing on the animals breast are secured to rings 15 at the lower end of metal strap 9. With this arrangement of the harness in backing a load or in holding back while dcscending a hill it is impossible for the pole to rise and unseat the hames from the collar or choke the animal by forcing the collar against its neck; but, on the contrary, the hames are held more firmly in their seat on the collar the harder the back draft may be, while the connection of the breast-strap with the holdback-strap keeps the pole in its natural position and gives a direct line of draft from the pole to the breeching.

In the drawings I show the spring 10 as bent upwardly. This is to correspond with the slant of the collar when placed upon the animals neck, so that the strain will come upon the entire width of the spring instead of upon the lower edge, as would be the case if the spring were not bent in the manner shown.

By having the brace'(shown in Fig. 2) bent backwardly a part of the strain is thrown on the sides of the brace where they rest on the front of the hame and a better leverage secured for the spring.

By tightening or loosening the upper hamestrap the draft means may be properly adjusted to fit different-sized animals. I

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of structure herein shown and described, inasmuch as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what'I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a draft attachment for harness, a metal strap; a spring extension on said strap;

a brace engaging said spring; means on said brace for engaging the tugs; means on the hame for carrying said brace and said spring; and means connecting said strap with a corresponding strap on the opposite hame.

2. In a draft attachment for harness, a metal strap; a spring extension on said strap; means on the upper end of said strap for connecting with the angling back-strap; an extension on the inner side of said strap provided with means for connecting the holdback-strap; means on the lower end of said strap for carrying means for connecting said strap with a corresponding strap on the opposite hame; a brace engaging said spring; means on said brace for engaging the tug; and means on the hame for carrying said spring and said brace.

3. In a draft attachment for harness, a metal strap; a spring extension on said strap;

. means on the hame for carrying said spring;

a brace; loops secured in the ends of the sides of the brace, said brace being slidably mounted on said means by means of said loops; pins connecting the sides of said brace and forming a lever-seat for said spring; and means at the outer end of said brace for engaging the tug.

4. In a draft attachment for harness, a swinging draft-bail; perforated lugs carrying said draft bail, said lugs being secured to the hame at a 'suflicient; distance from each other to allow a lateral but not a vertical movement of the bail in the lugs; a spring mounted on said draft-bail; a shoulder on said spring; means on the upper end of said shoulder for connecting with the angling backstrap; an extension on the inner side of said shoulder, below the spring; provided with means for connecting with the holdback-strap; means on the lower end of said shoulder for carrying means for connecting said shoulder with a corresponding shoulder on the opposite hame; a brace mounted on said bail and engaging said spring; and means on said brace for engaging the tug.

I 5. In a draft attachment for harness, a swinging draft-bail; means for securing said bail to the hame; a spring mounted on said bail; a brace mounted on said bail and engagmg said spring; means on the end of said brace for engaging the tug; a shoulder on said spring; means on said shoulder for connecting with the angling back-strap; means on said shoulder for connecting with the holdback-strap; a loop in the lower end of said shoulder; means movably mounted on the 

